Cricket: No takers to open for Black Caps

Lou Vincent has been handed back the poisoned chalice of opening after Stephen Fleming refused the offer.

Black Caps skipper Fleming said: "I'm not going to do it again. I think it compromised my spot too frequently and too easily. I've been batting No 4 for Notts and it's been going extremely well."

Attempts to manufacture the skipper into an opener were initially successful.

He scored a brilliant century in that role against England on their ill-fated tour last year but came badly unstuck when he was again thrust into the role against Australia earlier this year.

Glenn McGrath had him on toast for the first two tests of the series before he reverted to No 4 for the final test and scored 65.

He has no intentions of moving now, bluntly saying it is up to others to move and it was time for two guys to put their hands up as openers.

"I'm a middle-order player who has been batting in the top order and it's now my time to bat where I want to bat. It's not selfish, it's just a professional environment - that's my spot to play and there are other guys who have to push for spots higher up the order or lower down.

"They've got to make the changes. I'm set now and I'll stay at No 4 for hopefully the rest of my career. But it does leave competition at the top so we have some dilemmas there. We need to develop the top order.

"Hamish Marshall has cemented himself at No 3 with the way he's played over the past 18 months, so it's positions one and two. We have a lot of fives and sixes, and even No 4s, to choose from, so there have got to be some subtle changes there."

It is unlikely Lou Vincent will be looking to move his head too far above the parapet.

Like Fleming, he was initially successful as an opener before his susceptibility to the moving ball was exposed. Fleming's push for No 4 means Scott Styris is seeking a new home, though he can probably count himself lucky he has a spot in the line-up at all.

He got the nod over Jacob Oram solely on the grounds he will be expected to bowl several overs on what are expected to be very flat decks. Oram is still some work away from being considered an allrounder again.

Black Caps: Stephen Fleming (captain) Daniel Vettori (vice-captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, James Franklin, Hamish Marshall, James Marshall, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY